Atmospheric cooling tower



lg- 39 1932 G. T. MARTIN ATMOSPHERIC COOLING TOWER Filed May 2, 1950 :Erb I:

Patented Aug. 3f), 1932 UNEF ares istanze GUY T. MARTIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 FLUOR CONSTRUCTION CO., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, `A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ATMOSPHERIC COOLING TOWER Appucaun ined my a, 1930. seriaiNo. 449,201.

This invention relates generally to atmospheric cooling towers, and has to do particularly with distributing systems forspreading or distributing water evenly over the horizontal interior section of the tower at the beginning of its flow downwardlytherethrough.

Cooling towers of the present type may be characterized generally' as comprising a plurality of vertically spaced and apertured decks which define a vertical series of cooling chambers through which the'liquid is showered after passing through the' decks. Atmospheric air currents are directed so as to flew horizontally through the cooling chambers, by means of louver walls enclosing` the series of decks. According to the usual construction, water to be cooled is delivered to a main flume extending longitudinally on top the tower, and the water from the flumelis t e uppermost apertured deck of the tower by means of a distributing system interposed between the deck and the flume. And as mentioned, such systems comprise the subject i; matter of the present application.

lt is one object of the invention to provide a distributing system in which the water is delivered from the main flume extending longitudinally on top of the tower, to distributg. ing troughs extending' below and Vsubstantially parallel with the main flume, as distinguished from the usual distributing system in which the troughs taking water from the main flume extend transversely relatively thereto. By delivering the water from the main flume to overflow troughs extending longitudinally ofthe tower, ay much'gre'ater length of the tower can be supplied with water through a single valve controlled'outlet from the fiume, than in cases where the overflow troughs extend transversely of the tower and are therefore necessarily limited in length by the width of the tower. In 'accordance with my preferredconstruction I provide two 4 overiiow troughs below and atopposite sides of the flume, althoughany suitable number of such troughs may be used, and provide separate distributing decks beneath each trough. It is the further'object of the invention to* 59 provide an improved constructionv for the Reterencel is had throughout the description to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse and vertically contracted sectional elevation of thetower, illustr'ating the distributing system and also my improved deck construction; and

` Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view in Fig. l showing'a portion ofthe disjtributing system in one longitudinal 'section ofthe tower. A

Referring to the drawing, the tower frame work comprises a series o-f outside columns f 10 arranged in transverse pairs at intervals longitudinally of the tower, the portions of the tower between theV successive kpairs o columns 10 being termed sections For the present purposes, it will not be necessary to;

make a detailed showing of a towerI including a number of such sections, since this construction is common in cooling towers vof the present type, and will be readily understood by thosev familiarwith the art. Between and in line with columns 10, as shown y, in Fig. 1, is a series of interior columns 11 spaced longitudinally of the tower at 'intervals corresponding to the spacing of columns' 10. Alternate decks, hereinafter described, are supported on transverse chords12 joined to'colurnns 10 and 11, the remainingalternate decksbeing supported` by chords 13 and 14 ext-ending longitudinallyof the tower and joined to columns 10 and 11, respectively, as indicated.

Aseries of vertically spaced and apertured cooling decks, generallyindicated at 15, are

supported on the described horizontal frame members, the decks defining a vertical series ofco-oling chambers 16 through' which the water is showered downwardlyl as'it passes thro-ugh the decks.' Mounted on columns 10 opposite each chamber 16 isa tier of louvers 17, each tier surrounding the tower and partially enclosing its respect-ive cooling chamber. The construction and function of the 5 louvers are well known, and since they comprise no part of the invention, no further ,description of the louvers need be given` Decks are made up of series of vertically spaced and relatively staggered slats 10 18 and 19, which are spaced apart by means of supporting members extending between and substantially at right angles with the slats. Between the ends of the upper and lower series of slats 18 and 19 arel spacersy 15 21 to which the slats are nailed, and which it will b-e noted are somewhat narrower than supporting members 2O so that the upper and lo-wer deck slats are caused to bow in opposite directions. A detailed discussion of 2g@ the purposes and advantages of the deck construction described thus far need not be entered into in the present application, since this feature comprises the subjectmatter of Patent No'. 1,632,397, issued June 14, 1927 to John Simon Fluor, wherein the effectivenessof this type of deck in breaking up and causing exposure of the downwardly flowing water, is fully described. n

, VIn vaccordance with the invention, I have 3o made certain improvements in the deck construction whereby the decks are supported in a manner such that they are prevented from sagging.r` Heretofore the ydecks have been supported within the towerwith their ends Se: at spacers 21 resting on the horizontal frame members, no support being given the decks ,intermediate these ends.` Asa result, there ,has been in some cases a tendency for the 'decks to sag as the slats become water so-aked.

l V rTo obviate this difficulty, I provide cleats 23- extending across the ends ofthe slats and :on opposite sides of spacers 21, the thickness of the cleats being such that the thickness of the deck will be the same at its ends asat its intermediate bowed portion between supports 20. As a result, the Jdecks are en-v labled to be supported on a fiat surface, the bottom cleats 23 serving to support the ends .pf the deck. As shown in Fig. 1, the decksk are alternately supported on transverse chordsy 12 and longitudinal chords 13 and 14, the deck slats ineach case extending parallel with the supporting members and with 'the bottom end cleats 23 and the outermost 'lower slats resting on the upper edges of the supporting members. Thus the decks are not only supported at their ends, but also lat intermediate points by means of members 20, the result being that the slats are pre- G5- vented from sagging by their intermediate supports. Any suitable number ofsupporting members 2O and any lsuitable spacing therebetween, may of course be provided.

- `'able piping, not shown, toV a main flume r25 Y v blocks 37 The upper ends The water to be cooled isdelivered by suit-V .most transverse frame members 12a. From flume 25, the water is conducted over a distributing system comprising a pair of disf tributing units 26 and 26a mounted below and at opposite sides of the flume. Upon flow- Y ing over the distributing system, the water is caused to be distributed horizontally in a manner such that it is showered downward evenly over the uppermost deck 15a, from whence it passes downwardly through the series of cooling chambers and becomes cooled by the transverse flowing air currents. The cooled water yis collected in a basin 26?) at the base 0f the tower', from whence it is taken for further use.

The distributing units 26 and 26a each comprise a distributing deck 27, preferably of the slatted type hereinafter described,- adjustably suspended from the top transverse frame member 12a of the tower. As will later be seen, the distributing decks are made up in sections or units, the length of which, that is their extent longitudinally of thetower, corby lateral conduits, and which extend longitudinally of the tower, vsubstantially parallel l with the main fiume.

-Distributing decks 27 are made up of vertically spaced and relatively staggered slats 30 and 31 which are nailed to the upper and f lower sides of transverse supporting members 32 anc Supporting members 32 are of somewhat greater width than members 33, so as to cause the upper slats 31 to slope gradually outward ltoward their ends, andy the lower slats to slope inward toward their centers. The central portions of the upper slats 30 are cut away to enable troughs 28 to be set down within the `decks as will be later described more fully.

The distributing decks 27 are suspended from the uppermosttransverse frame members 12a` byv means of hangers at each end of the decks.V Any suitable form of suspension means or hanger maybe provided. rllhe typical form of hanger'shown herein comprises a deck supporting beam 35 carried on the lower ends -of rods 36, which extend at their upper' endsthrough blocks 37, see Fig. 2, placed between frame members 12a. Rods36 lli are supported by` nuts 360i.l threaded on their i upper ends and bearing downwardly onV of the rods are threaded-.throughouta length suiiicient to angles with the sides of the troughs.

nuts 36a. The leveling operation is obviously simple, since the adjustments can be made from readily accessible parts on top the upper frame members.

As shown in Fig. 2, supporting members 32 .and 33 project somewhat beyondthe ends of `Water is conducted from main flume to n the distributing units 26' and 26a, by meansof conduit 38 supported on the underside of the flume by hangers 39. The water iiows from the main flume into conduit38, through openings 40 in thev bottom of the flume. Within the laterally. extending conduit .38 at opposite sides of opening 40 are valves 4l and 42 having operating rods 43 extending upwardly through the lume, the valves serving to selectively control the flow of water to the distributing units. Thus valves 41and 42 will be adjusted so as to permit the delivery of a greater amount of water to `one side of.

the tower than the other, such as maybe desirable under conditions ot high wind velocity, in order to compensate orsubse-I quent lateral displacement of the Water in passing downwardly through the tower.

At the end of conduit 38 of down spouts 45 through which the water is discharged into trough 28. The ends of the spouts may be notched as at 45a in order to permit ready flow therefrom into the troughs. The latter may be of any suitable construction, but preferably they are of the V-type comprising the subject matter of Patent No. 1,593,325, issued July 20, 1926 to J. S. Fluor, on atmosphericv cooling tower. The V-shapedtroughs 28 are provided with side extensions 47 having overflow openings 47a, and laterally projecting aprons 48 extending substantially at right As previously mentioned, the upper slats 30 of the distributing decks are cut away at the central portions of the deck to enable the overflow troughs to be set down within the deck, whereby projecting aprons 48 are brought immediately above the upper slats of the decks. Although should it be desired, the troughs may be rested directly from the decks, I have shown them in the present instance to be l supported on notched blocks 50 which rest upon beams 35.

By virtue of troughs 28 extending longitudinally of the tower and overlapping the series of distributing decks,4 the'necessity is obviated for providing a valve controlled conduit for delivering water from the main flume to the troughs, ateach longitudinal section of the tower. Thus suliicient water may be delivered to the overiiow troughs at one section of the tower to supply a number 'of sections. This is in distinction to certain common types of distributing systems which necessitate the provision of a valve controlled outletifrom the flume for each tower section, 'due to the tact that in such types, the overflow troughs extend laterally instead of longitudinally of the tower.

In operation, water delivered to the distributing system units through conduit 38, overflows through openings 47a in the upper extensions 47 of the vtroughs onto decks27. A portion of the overflow water retained in theupper deck slats 30 will be carried outwardly away-from the trough and distributed -over the outer areas of the transverse seci tions of thek tower, dueto the outward slope of the upper slats. Another portion of the water overiowing onto lower deck slats 31 is carried in a reverse manner inwardly toward the central portion ofthe transverse tower sections, due to the reverse slope of the lower deck slats. Thus the ldecks serve to carry or distribute a portion of the water outwardly and away from the troughs, and also to cause a portion to flow inwardly beneath the troughs, the general result accomplished being to bring about even distribution of the water over the uppermost cooling deck 15a of the tower.l i

' I claim: y

1. Tn an atmospheric cooling tower,y a plurality of vertically spaced apertured decks, and a water distributing system above said decks comprising; a main flume extending longitudinally of the tower, an overflow trough below and extending substantially parallel with said flume, means for delivering water from the fiume to said trough, and a slatted distributing deck below said trough for distributing water overflowing the trough, over the uppermost of the first mentioned decks, said distributing deck comprising vertically spaced and relatively staggered slats extending substantially at right angles with said trough, the upperrslats sloping outwardlytoward their ends, and the lower slats sloping inwardly toward their longitudinal centers.

2. In an atmospheric cooling tower, a plurality of vertically spaced decks each comprising a plurality of vertically spaced parallel and relatively staggered slats, and a water distributing-system above said decks comprising; a main iiume'extending longitudinally or" the tower, an overflow trough below and extending substantially parallel with said flume, means for delivering wat-er from the flume to said trough, and a slatted distributing deck below said trough comprising vertically spaced and relatively staggered slats extending substantially at right 4angles relative to said trough and to the slats in the rality of vertically spaced apertured decks,

and av waterY distributing systemV above said decks comprising; a main iume extending longitudinally and centrally of the tower, a

.pair of overflow troughs below and at oppojoined to said columns, a plurality of vertically spaced decks arranged below theuppermost of said cross members, and a water distributing system comprising; a main fiume extending centrally and longitudinally of the tower abovethe last mentioned cross members, separate water distributing means below the uppermost cross member and at each side of the flume, conduits for vdelivering water from the fiume to the distributing means, and means for suspendingsaid distributing means from the .uppermost cross member.

5. In an atmospheric cooling tower having a frame comprising vertical columns and verticallyV spaced transverse cross members joined to said columns, a plurality of vertically spaced decks arranged below the uppermost of said cross members, and a water distributing' system comprising; a main flume extending longitudinally of the tower above th-e last mentioned cross member, a pair of overflow troughs below said fiume and at opposite sidesthereof, means for delivering `water from the flume to said troughs, separate water distributing vdecks below said troughs, and adjustable supporting means for said distributing decks.

6. In an atmospheric cooling tower having a. frame comprising vertical columns and vertically spaced transverse cross members joined to said columns, a plurality of vertically spaced decks arranged below the uppermost of said cross members, and a water distributing system comprising; a. main flume extending longitudinally of the tower above the last mentioned cross* members, a pair of overflow troughs below said flume and at opposite sides thereof, means for delivering vwater from the flume `to said troughs, separate water distributing `decks below said troughs, and means for suspending said water distributing decks from said uppermost cross members.

7. Inan atmospheric coolingtower, a distributing deck comprising, a plurality of parallel vertically spaced and relatively staggered slats, the upper slats Vsloping outwardly andtheglower slats sloping inwardly, and an overflow trough extending at .right angles with the. deck slats and projectn land an overflow trough extending at right angl-es with the deck slats and projecting downwardly within the deck to a point below the upper slats thereof, the sides of said trough .extending above VVsaid slats..

' 9. In an atmospheric cooling` tower liaving a frame comprising vertical vcolumns and vertically spaced .transverse cross members joinedtof said columns, a .plurality of vertically spaced decks.arrangedbelow the uppermost of said cross members, anda water distributing system comprising; a `main flume extending centrally andlongitudinally of the tower above the lastvmentioned cross members, ran overflow trough below 'said uppermost Vcross members, extending substantially parallel'with said flume and spaced transversely therefrom, valve controlled means for delivering water from said flume to said trough, and means below said trough for distributing y water overflowing the trough, over the uppermost of said decks, saidftrough being supported by said distributing means. j

l0. In an atmospheric cooling tower having top transverse frame members,"a plurality of vertically spaced apertured decks below said` frame members, and a water distributing system above said decks comprising; a main flumeV extending vlongitudinally and centrally of the tower above said frame members, a pairof overflow troughs below and at opposite sides Aof the flume, said troughs being transverselyspaced from and extending substantially parallel with the fiume, transversely extending conduits for delivering water from the fiume to said troughs, valve means for controlling-the flow of water through said conduits, and separate laterally spaced distributing decks below said transverse frame members and support-- ing the troughs. 1

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of March, 1930.

GUY TV. MARTIN.

lll)

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,874,020. August 30, i932.

GUY T. MARTIN.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 84, claim 8, before "slats" insert the word "upper"; and that the said Letters Patent shouldV be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of .the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of December, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

